Curious if others are conscious of how you look when you go backpacking?

I guess I ask this because I am kind of consciously making an effort to look more normal, out for a walk in the woods kinda look. I'm not sure why, I guess as I get into the whole backpacking light thing I don't want to look like I am making a summit assault on Everest.

Couple things I have done is I am eliminating stuff that hangs from my pack, I am cutting stuff off my pack that I don't need and add to the clutter, I would like to get some nylon pants that are more like regular pants (no zip off, cargo pockets, hammer loop, zippers, etc). All of this correlates with being/carrying less but at the same time I just want to look…less. Not just for others but for myself, for the pictures I am in that friends and family will see. I just don't want to look and feel like I am on some intense survival mission or that I am a walking advertisement for REI. In some ways I think this could help to convey to friends and family that I want to someday go backpacking with, that it does not have to be a survival mission, it is just walking.

If extra pockets on pants work better for you, then that is what you need. If I attach something to my pack to increase efficiency, then so be it. I own a god-awful looking orange R1 Hoody, because I saved $40 by buying it in that color than the more popular ones. Right now my hair is too long, as are my finger nails, and my beard is a scraggly mess. On a recent trip my wife pointed out that I had on blue shoes, green socks, red shorts, a blue windshirt and a black vest over it… very poor color coordination. I don't give a Rat's Arse.

Now, I will soon be traveling to a corporate meeting and will have a haircut, manicured nails, professionally cut beard, expensive suit perfectly coordinated with shirt and tie, and my laptop bag will look corporate. This is necessary if I want to keep my job and it does not bother me at all. Unfortunately, in my business, appearance counts and one must adhere to the standards if they wish to play in this arena. When conducting business I do care how I look.

For me, it's function over form on the trail; I'm not trying to make a fashion statement. Any combination of clothing or colors is acceptable if it's appropriate for current conditions. If someone is upset seeing naked people, they can move on down the trail and let me soak/bathe in peace…..or they can strip off and join me.

When trying to hitch a ride or before arriving at a trail angel's home, it's a different story. I shave. I wash my hands and face, brush my hair, and attempt to deodorize the body a bit. I'll change into whatever passes for my cleanest dirty clothing.

In town, I'll find a motel or hostel, then on to a laundry and wash everything but my rain pant and jacket – gotta have SOMETHING on. I'll shower, shave, and shampoo while my clothes are trying to kill the washer. Once resembling human again, I'll pig out on the luxuries available before returning once again to my true hiker trash trail personna.

Yes, that's Reds Meadow Resort along the PCT/JMT. Good memory on your part.

I believe that along with Ultralight backpacking comes a certain Aesthetic of simplicity. While his post may make it sound the opposite, no one I have hiked with has characterized this more then Nick.

His gear has reached a pinnacle of simplicity, and in that lies a certain beauty to me.

To answer your question, yes, I do try to keep the outside of my pack as simple as possible, and to do that I keep as much stuff from dangling outside my pack as possible. I also try to minimize the number of items in my pack, keeping it as simple as possible. I have yet to achieve the level of Nick, but I am happy with what I have.

"Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler"
~Albert Einstein

I understand where you are coming from to an extent, but at the same times, who cares?

I once hiked with a group of guys who wore so much camo a fellow hiker on the trail asked if we were all military. We weren't. We were just a group of guys hiking.

I care more about comfort and usefulness of my clothes than I do about fashion. On the other hand, I do tend to wear more natural or neutral colors when hiking. I don't wear bright colors on the trail or on my gear. It ruins the wilderness some how.

Not really, though I have a preference for UV resistant tops, and rugged pants. If needed, I can switch to street clothes at the end of a hike before hitting the restaurant. For multi-day hikes away from home, I usually reward myself with a night in the nearest city anyways .. or at least a dip in the nearest hot spring, so I'm changing jnto swim trunks and Tevas, regardless. I'm not driving hours smelling up my vehicle. Figure those thru-hiking the Alps or the UK where wild camping is discouraged (and spending each night in a refugio or inn is encouraged) may need to worry about it more. Might be a form of stealth in those areas. In the US, nah.

I don't know why this would seem like a trolling post. I think it's something interesting to discuss. There is a thread in Gear where a dozen people have weighed in on how sleeping socks should fit (which is fine) but if we can talk about that I think this is a valid thing to discuss.

I would venture to guess with all the detailed discussion of all the expensive brand name clothes that the majority of people on this site are somewhat interested in how they look or appear when heading out.

I think how you look usually plays into how you feel. So maybe if you dress like you are on a survival expedition does that possibly make you feel more like you are on one? The more I do this the more I want to feel like I am walking, enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. I want to purposefully try to leave my stresses behind both the work stuff but also my stressing about having a backup to the just-in-case to the backup plan. That is part of being a light backpacker so why wear the uniform of the backpacker that is packing all of their fears?

Thom – you are a good example, you look very normal and comfortable. You look like you are out for a walk or a jog. The look on your face, your body language, and your shelter says 'I am out walking, enjoying myself, relaxed.' If I was a non backpacker and I saw that picture I might think 'wow look how comfortable he looks, normal, casual, looks like fun'.

The two examples above are in contrast or on the opposite end of the spectrum of a mental image of a traditional backpacker with a 50+ lb pack, sleeping bag, pad, whistle, compass, watch, towel, and other gear strapped onto the outside of their pack. He is wearing heavy duty mountaineering boots, heavy wool socks and/or gore-tex knee high gators, zip off pants, leg pockets bulging with maps, GPS, etc. Fixed blade knife on hip, bandanna on head for river of sweat pouring down face, boonie hat hanging off kneck strap, trekking poles, possibly a backup GPS clipped by carabeaner to shoulder strap.

Those are the two opposite ends of the spectrum. Imagine what people think when they see the traditional guy. Wow that looks like hard work, that looks expensive, that looks awful. When they see Thom or Lint's trip pictures they probably think wow that dosent look so hard, that does not look too expensive.

I guess I have lowered my pack weight but for the most part I probably carry the look of the traditional guy that is assaulting rather than walking. I am just saying as I buy things, a shirt here, a pair of pants there, I am going to buy stuff that is toned down, less pockets, less zippers, normal colors, less IN YOUR FACE backpacking clothes and just go for a more…I am out walking casually through the woods…look.

It's a valid topic Ty. I completely agree that there is something beautiful about simplicity. Obviously not everyone buys into the simple approach and insist on carrying as much comfort as possible (whatever that means to them). A person carrying a 50lb pack with stuff dangling everywhere doesn't seem relaxed or simple to me.

This discussion reminds me of a time when I lived in a remote area. I was always disgusted how often I would see people's houses looking trashed out with junk in the yard etc.. No reason being poor means you need to look disorganized. Have some pride in your appearance. I carry that same attitude in when I am out. Having less should make that all the easier to accomplish.

Randy – I agree. Pants for example, the less pockets the less crap you can put in there.

Here is me on my last trip (yes yes, the leaves were still on the trees, I know I am going March 24th).

If you could see my legs/feet you would see I am wearing $300 leather backpacking boots with thick wool socks. I also came back from that trip with a black toenail and blisters all over my ankles, bought some hiking shoes and have since been on several day hikes carrying my son in a backpack carrier and even with 35lbs on I can promise you I will never wear leather boots again.

But even in this picture you can see I have my nylon (camo) fishing shirt and Columbia zip off pants both with a dozen or more pockets. It's like I bought my clothes from a 'backpackers uniform store'. Since then I have tended to go with a lighter, less rough, no pockets synthetic t shirt, and I want to loose the pants of a thousand pockets (randy will check out those pants). I also am going to cut a lot of the crap off my pack that does nothing but dangles and serves a 'what if' purpose. Like 'what if I ever want to carry an ice axe'. Ahhh probably not.

At 6' and 270 pounds, "svelte" is not an adjective that's used to describe me, but I do like having a small tidy pack without things flopping around. I enjoy the looks I get from the "Trads" when I pass them on the trail – It's always something like: "He's awfully far away from a road for a dayhike this time of day." I usually see the most people first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. Sometimes I'll stop to chat and others I'll just say "hi" and keep moving – it just depends.

As for color coordination? I really don't care – I usually wear a long-sleeve black Patagonia R1 on top and grey convertible pants on the bottom. If it's summer and I'm out I might switch to a white long-sleeve R1 on top. If it's raining I have white cuben chaps and a red eVent Packa. To quote a wise previous poster: "Who gives a rat's behind?"

Really. I am well known for hiking in cotton even. :-P I have little fashion sense and it is OK. White Injini socks, clown like Keen low cuts and hot pink work out tops I wear to the gym are common. Well that was before….

I spent the last 4 years either pregnant, post partum or trying – due to that I was seen in a LOT of cotton, I wasn't about to drop a small fortune on tech maternity clothing (also because none of it would fit my massive baby bellies I get….). So I hiked and walked in street clothing, just with my socks and shoes on.

Last September, out hiking, 4 months or so along with my third baby – in all street clothing:

Ironically I got so used to not wearing "hiking pants" I have no desire to wear any of mine now. They are so hot – yuck. I can wear them again but no thanks. I think I might keep being crazy and wear normal street clothing when I hike (my wardrobe is pretty relaxed). I carry backup gear and I won't do it in snow or cold rain but hey, I like it.

This is pretty close though to how I look now when I hike (fall of 2010):